Dental Assisting Program (New)

Dental Assisting Program

What is an Dental Assistant?

A dental assistant works on the delivery of quality oral health care and is a big part of the dental care team. Responsibilities include performing tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills, assisting the dentist with the patient, developing dental radiographs (x-ray), collecting information about patients’ medical history, and assisting patients to feel comfortable when entering the office and during treatment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of dental assistants is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will likely continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services. Dentists will continue to hire more dental assistants to complete routine tasks, allowing the dentist to see more patients in their practice and spend their time on more complex procedures. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.”

Program Description

This two-course program is designed to prepare students for a career working as a dental assistant in the dental profession. These courses provide an introduction to Dentistry and Dental Assisting as well as Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification. Topics include infection control, dental charting, preparing the patient, basic chair-side assisting, dental instruments and hand-pieces, tray set-up and procedures, dental materials and business administration procedures.

Required Courses

Dental Assisting I is a 130-hours course that provides an introduction to Dentistry and Dental Assisting as well as Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification. Topics include infection control, dental charting, preparing the patient, basic chair-side assisting, dental instruments and hand-pieces, tray set-up and procedures, dental materials and business administration procedures.

The course is designed to introduce people interested in changing careers to the dental profession. It is also designed to teach students that plan to continue their training in dental assisting by working in a dental practice. Students will learn material through PowerPoint lectures, discussion and lab demonstrations.

Prerequisites: See prerequisites below.

Course Schedule

Fall 2019 – CRN# 33395

Dental Assisting II is a 160 hour course with a combination of lecture and clinical. This course will provide dental assistant students with the fundamental principles upon which dental radiology is based. The course will cover basic radiation health and safety. An introduction to dental radiography and equipment and the production and evaluation of dental radiographs.

Course content will focus on preparing the student to sit for the “Radiation Health & Safety” (RHS) and the “Infection Control Exam” (ICE) portion of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification as required by law in the state of Connecticut in order to expose radiographs in a dental setting. The DANB RHS and ICE Exams are administered by computer only at PROMETRICS Testing Centers.

The first 60 hours will be held in the classroom at Three Rivers Community College. Students will be responsible for completing the remaining 100 hours at individual clinical sites. Assistance in obtaining clinical sites will be provided. All clinical hours will need to be completed by August 31, 2019.

Prerequisites:

Successful completion of Dental Assisting I

Must be at least 18 years of age

Provide proof of high school completion or equivalent (foreign students must provide a notarized English translated transcript)

TB (PPD) test results read within the last 12 months from the clinical end date

Provide proof of 2 Measles, 2 Mumps & 1 Rubella or Titer

Chicken Pox-proof of vaccine (varicella/varivax) or antibody TiterPlease Note: It is mandatory that you provide all necessary forms with your registration. A seat will not be held until all of your documentation and payment are received.

Certification

The Dental Assisting Program will prepare students to sit for the “Radiation Health & Safety” (RHS) and the “Infection Control Exam” (ICE) portion of the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification as required by law in the state of Connecticut in order to expose radiographs in a dental setting. The DANB RHS and ICE Exams are administered by computer only at PROMETRICS Testing Centers.

Prerequisites

Must be at least 18 years of age,

Provide proof of high school completion or equivalent (foreign students must provide a notarized English translated transcript).

Prior to submitting your registration you must successfully complete our in-house Math and English Comprehension test. The in-house testing arrangements must be made prior to submitting your registration and payment. Waiver for the testing will be considered for those who provide proof of prior college-level courses.

To make an appointment for an entrance exam, please sign up as follows:

Log onto www.timecenter.com/trcc

Click on Make-up, Special Accommodation, & Workforce Test

Click on date and time of your choosing

Complete the requested information. When asked for a Student ID number, please notate “non-credit” and the type of test you are taking (for example, CNA). You will receive a confirmation text or email of this scheduled appointment.

Note: Please arrive on time for your scheduled appointment (Room A117). There is no food or drink allowed in the Testing Center. There is no use of cell phones, headphones, notes, etc., during testing. Students must present a picture ID in order to enter the Testing Center for their appointment.

PLEASE NOTE: It is mandatory that you provide all necessary forms with your registration. A seat will not be held until all of your documentation and payment is received.

Three Rivers Community College strives to provide a safe and healthy environment for students, staff, and faculty. Sexual misconduct of any kind is not tolerated. If you or someone you know experiences any form of sexual misconduct, the College can provide assistance. For more information about Title IX and/or sexual misconduct, contact Maria Krug, Title IX Coordinator, Three Rivers Community College, 574 New London Turnpike Norwich, CT 06360, (860) 215-9208, MKrug@trcc.commnet.edu.